------------- Crimson Ludus – Warmonger

In all the fighting arenas, in all the schools of weaponry and martial arts, there is but one true master, the Weaponsmaster. But to some, even he is inferior. For the arena is but a small reflection of the only true sport of men,… WAR. Thus came the great warmasters of Atheae, in the time when Ares held more sway over men’s minds and hearts than the delicate skills of Athena. Athena may have taught them how to grow crops and train horses, how to forge mighty armor and shields, and all the other skills of great civilizations,… but Ares gave men the strength to fight against oppressors and win their homes back from foreign invaders. Ares led Atheae to victory over the First Symballan Empire, and as all true warriors, He stepped aside and left the peacemaking to the women,… namely His sister, Athena.

Many did not forget Ares’ contributions, and the legends of His valor and mighty deeds, and the lessons He taught his Warmasters were passed down. As often as not, they were passed down by His immortal servants, DemiGods of great strength and unchallenged skill, called simply Minions of Ares. Many things changed over the centuries, none so much as Ares’ cast in the light of the world, and by reflection of worship, His demeanor and that of His creations. War became an evil idea, no matter the reasons. As men lost sight of War’s purpose and its greater truths, so too did Ares lose His way. And His Minions became cruel, hateful and vile.

Theodontis’ father was such a creature, a demonic Minion of a God whose time had come and gone. But in the fullness of time, Theodontis saw the old ways within himself, and thus, within the original spirit of Ares. He cast down the modern view, seeing it as man’s failing to remember the truth, not Ares’ failing to persevere. When he met an old man on the road one day, his head filled with visions of the Warmasters of old, he knew. This man was Ares himself. But Ares was bitter and hateful of the world that had cast Him aside. Seeing nothing of what he knew of the old ways in Ares, Theodontis cursed His name and threw down all of Olympus, saying that it was they who had lost their way, that if the Gods do not persevere and keep mortal man true despite his fickle nature, what good were they.

Thus was Theodontis set on his road to the arenas of Viridius, where warfare is still worshipped, to focus his own rage at the Gods on the skills of the ancient warmasters. Some day, some distant day a thousand years hence, he sees himself ascending mighty Olympus to put the Gods back on their path, to recoup the old days of glory. He is immortal, after all,… so long as the Gods don’t kill him first.

------------- Credits

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